Like Hillary, I'm glad Curt's suffering is finally over. I think he liked being known as a curmudgeon, but in person, he was a really sweet guy.

A couple of fond memories:

The first time I ever climbed with him, we made arrangements to meet at an Alabama crag. I got there with all my gear packed and ready to roll. Curt pulled up in his red van and proceeded to start combing through all the bins of cams, nuts, biners and other stuff in the back of the van. He'd pull out some esoteric piece like a Forest Titon and tell me a story about some route he'd used it on, or a particular nut that was vital on a FA he'd been involved in. About an hour (and numerous gear stories) later, we were finally headed to the cliff -- with me lugging his rack as well as my own gear, since he was recovering from a broken elbow!

Curt and I were at one of Arno Ilgner's Warrior's Way clinics at Foster Falls (TN). At the end of the day, most everyone else was cooking their dinner around the campfire; Curt and I said, screw that, let's go into Jasper and get some barbecue. When we got there, it turned out to be karaoke night, so we regaled the diners with some two-part harmony on the old Merle Travis song "Smoke Smoke Smoke That Cigarette" while we waited for our food.

So sorry to hear this! I had no idea he had cancer, but do remember him from years back on RC.com. He had the cutest avatar of Gumby with dirt on his face! He was silly and smart, and although I never met him I did like him a lot and really enjoyed his posts.

I had just stopped working for the site (the first time), but Curt wasn't aware I was no longer an admin. He PM-ed me and said something to the effect of, "When are you people going to delete all my fucking posts?" I told him to PM somebody who cares.

I always enjoyed the banter he and I had, and I think he did too. He was a fighter - mostly against his cancer. Whenever he got really angry, I knew it was just a reaction to his health problems taking a turn for the worse.

I will always respect and admire the good fight he put up lo these many years. Glad he no longer has to suffer.